EU Presidency Statement - General debate

Mr. Chairman

I have the honor to speak on behalf of the European Union. This statement is endorsed by the countries of Central and Eastern Europe associated with the European Union (Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia) and the other associated countries (Cyprus, Malta and Turkey).

The fundamental values of our organization, the United Nations, have been subject to a cowardly attack, here in New York itself. In the space of a few seconds, we came face to face with horror. "Globalization with a human face" as we advocate it, in its basic meaning of a community of values, of tolerance and respect for life, has suffered an unacceptable attack. There is worldwide indignation. The sorrow, disgust and horror felt since 11 September are shared by a community of democratic countries and I can assure you, Mr. Chairman, that the EU is standing right by you. These appalling acts were an attack not only on the United States but on humanity as a whole, and on the values and freedoms common to us all. We express our unlimited solidarity with this wounded country. We shall act together against the scourge of terrorism and fanaticism.

Mr. Chairman,

1. We are opening the proceedings of the Second Committee of the General Assembly under special circumstances. On behalf of the European Union, allow me firstly to congratulate you on your election as Chairman of this Main Committee of the United Nations General Assembly. You have already shown great mastery of the issues as a Vice-President of the Economic and Social Council. We welcome your diplomatic talents and your personal qualities as a guarantee of the success of this 56th session. Our congratulations also extend to all the members of the bureau, to whom we also wish every success.

Mr. Chairman,

2. All international organizations, particularly the United Nations, must take part in the fight against this new form of terrorism. The Second Committee, where sustainable development is debated, can make a useful contribution in response to the challenges launched on 11 September. Chronic under-development and poverty are sometimes a breeding ground for extremism. Constant poverty, a deficient education system and an oppressive political climate may all give rise to fanaticism. By pursuing our work on sustainable development, we will contribute indirectly to restoring the values of freedom and tolerance which are intrinsic to globalization with a human face.

Mr. Chairman,

3. Exactly one year ago, the Heads of State came together in support of a long-term project: humanizing this globalization by 2015. At the Millennium Summit, the international community unequivocally reaffirmed its commitment to the universal aims of the United Nations and to development goals in general. In the chapter of their Declaration devoted to development and poverty, the Member States approved an action plan and some precise goals. This Declaration should serve as a guide for our activities within the Second Committee this year and in the years to come. For the same reasons, I will link my comments today with the commitments made at the Millennium Summit.

(extreme poverty §11, environment conducive to development §12, good governance §13)

4. The essential message of the Millennium Summit may be seen as an awareness at the highest level of the intolerable character of extreme poverty. We shall reflect this fundamental concern throughout our proceedings this year. We shall draw up a resolution on just this theme, namely the eradication of poverty. The phenomenon of poverty is not defined only by a lack of income and of financial resources, but includes the notions of vulnerability and helplessness. Bad governance, corruption, and the squandering of resources take a heavy toll amongst the poor. People are vulnerable to natural disasters, insufficient access to basic education and health care, a lack of jobs etc. Poverty reduction strategies should therefore include all these dimensions, focusing as a priority on the consolidation of the democratic process, on peace and conflict prevention and on the strengthening of the institutional structures needed for good governance, particularly economic, financial, legal and public administration infrastructure. Across-the-board issues such as respect for human rights or equality between men and women contribute powerfully to the emergence of a stable environment, favorable for the promotion of human development. The EU will reflect this multifaceted and integrated vision of the fight against poverty when we come to discuss globalization and interdependence. For the EU, good governance is primarily national. Of course, this does not exclude open debate on its international implications.

(Good governance at international level in financial, monetary and trading systems - §13)

5. In the Millennium Declaration, the European Union reaffirms its commitment to working for an open, equitable, rule-based, predictable and non-discriminatory multilateral trading system. This concern will be reflected both in the preparatory process for the Conference on Financing for Development, and in specific resolutions relating to trade and to the financial infrastructure. In this context of international governance, the EU stresses the importance which it attaches to the need for consistency in the system, particularly between the United Nations and the Bretton Woods institutions, as well as with regional organizations and the UN's Regional Commissions. The EU also hopes that the fourth Ministerial meeting of the WTO in Qatar will see the launch of a new round of multilateral negotiations in which the development dimension will be fully taken into account.

Mobilization of resources and financing for development §14)

6. The EU is aware of the urgent need to finance the commitments made at the Millennium Summit. The EU believes that this financing will primarily be domestic, both public and private. But we fully recognize the irreplaceable character of official development assistance (ODA), in particular for the least developed countries. The European Union, whose gross domestic product represents just under 30% of world GDP, provides more than half of official development assistance worldwide, and is responsible for financing half of the United Nations' operational development activities. We would like to repeat that efforts must be intensified to achieve the goal of ODA of 0,7% of GDP for all donor countries, and we recognize that this means reversing the declining trend for ODA world-wide. We urge partners who are able to do so to participate in the same effort.

7. In this context of mobilizing resources, I can assure you, Mr. Chairman, that the EU will make every effort to ensure the success of preparatory work for the Conference on Financing for Development. The Preparatory Committee will meet from 15 October, thus interrupting our proceedings for a week. For the EU, the interruption will only be one of form. The subjects to be discussed at the Preparatory Committee are also on the agenda for the Second Committee. For the EU, it is obvious that we should ensure the greatest possible consistency between these two processes, to avoid possible duplications or contradictions. From our point of view, the Monterrey Conference should make for improved mobilization of national and international resources and greater policy consistency, to help us achieve the aims of sustainable development. It should also ensure more effective cooperation between all players in the development field, in the form of a true partnership between governments, the United Nations, the Bretton Woods institutions, other international organizations, the private sector and civil society as a whole. In this context, the debate on Global Public Goods must also be launched. The EU is ready to examine their importance and role at this Conference.

(LDCs §15, access to the market, HIPC debt and low and middle income countries §16)

8. As in the Millennium Declaration, the EU reaffirms that the first priority must be the specific problems of Africa, and of the least developed countries. The EU is the largest trading partner of the LDCs, and as you know has committed itself to opening its markets to all products from these countries except for arms. The Union is the largest donor of ODA to these countries, with annual aid of nearly 7 billion euro. The EU will attempt to increase the effectiveness of this aid, particularly by untying it for the LDCs.

9. We are to debate the follow up to the LDC conference held in Brussels at the EU's invitation. We reaffirm the importance which we attach to the implementation of the action programme at national and regional level. We are counting on the effective participation of all the organizations in the UN system to implement the commitments made in May. We believe that

it is essential to continue the debate which started in Brussels on ways of following up the Conference. We remain in favor of a form of follow up which would enable us to raise the political profile of the LDCs' cause once again. The EU is ready to endorse the LDCs request for the appointment of a high representative of the Secretary General. Follow up to the LDC Conference should also be included on the agenda for the Economic and Social Council on a regular basis.

Mr. Chairman,

10. At the Millennium Summit, Heads of State reaffirmed that the enhanced HIPC initiative remained an essential element of the fight against poverty. This year, the accelerated implementation of that initiative has allowed 23 beneficiary countries to commit those newly freed resources to financing social sectors such as education and health. The European Union once again calls on eligible countries to take the necessary political and economic steps to become fully part of this process. It also calls on creditor countries to share the burden of financing it in an equitable fashion. This mobilization of additional resources should not be to the detriment of other channels for development aid.

(The quantifiable Millennium goals §19)

11. Mr. Chairman, the Second Committee should contribute to the eventual realization of the quantifiable goals set at the Millennium Summit. Besides poverty reduction, the international community gave specific commitments to ensure that by 2 015 boys and girls alike would have access to primary schooling, maternal mortality would be reduced by three quarters, child mortality would be reduced by two thirds, the spread of HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases would be reversed, and that by 2020 the conditions of 100 million urban poor would be improved. We consider the issue of gender equality as an essential dimension of sustainable development. A number of resolutions on these issues will be adopted by this body.

The EU would like to express its determination to maintain political momentum on the subject of children, in connection with negotiations on the final document of the Special Session on the Summit for Children. This Session has been postponed, for reasons you know. The EU will maintain its priorities on the fundamental questions raised in this document, namely an approach in accordance with the rights of the child, and upholding the results of conferences as regards reproductive health.

(Make the UN a more effective instrument for pursuing all of these priorities §29)

Mr. Chairman,

The operational activities of the United Nations have an important role to play in achieving development goals. We will work on the triennial review of operational activities, with recipient governments and other development partners. Exchanges of views during the last operational activities segment of ECOSOC revealed a wide consensus on the key concepts for these activities. We are confident that, when we undertake that review, this consensus will enable us to reach a new stage in the development of a more effective and better performing UN operational system as regards its contribution to realizing the goals I mentioned earlier, amongst other things by greater synergy between Funds and Programmes. These Funds and Programmes, together with the specialized agencies and International Financial Institutions, will have to play a fundamental role. The co-operation, already a reality in the framework of CCA's, UNDAF and PRSP's, has to be intensified and their procedures harmonized, where appropriate. The UE welcomes the New African Initiative, which like PRSP's, is based on the principles of ownership and coherence between donors and international organizations.

(ECOSOC §30)

Mr. Chairman,

12. The Second Committee will examine the report of the Economic and Social Council. On that occasion, the EU hopes to highlight the conclusions of the Council's summer session, inasmuch as they have a clear link with the discussions which will take place at the Second Committee. In particular, the EU hopes to reaffirm the importance which it attaches to the process of following up conferences. The Economic and Social Council is responsible for regularly assessing and coordinating the application and follow up to the action programmes of the major United Nations conferences. The resolution adopted on this subject this year is a first step towards a more determined consolidation of our ideas on follow up to the conferences and to the Millennium Summit. The European Union would like to reiterate its conviction, already expressed in detail at the Council this year, that the major conferences should no longer give rise to mechanical or ritual follow up exercises. The negotiated results should preferably be more concise and operational. The EU welcomes the Council's decision to carry out a serious examination of its working methods during the coordination segment in the summer of 2002. This reform responds to the wish expressed by Member States at the Millennium Summit: to reinforce the Council so that it is able to fulfill its mandate of coordinating the system in the economic and social field.

(World Summit on Sustainable Development: Chapter IV of the Millennium Declaration)

Mr. Chairman,

13. The Millennium Declaration also points out that we must change our current unsustainable ways of consuming and producing, in the interests of our future well-being and that of our children. It includes a number of commitments, particularly as regards implementation of the Convention on Biodiversity and the Convention to combat desertification; the management, conservation and sustainable development of forests; the entry into force of the Kyoto Protocol; the cessation of the unsustainable exploitation of water resources and the intensification of cooperation to reduce the number and effects of natural and man-made disasters.

14. The European Union attaches the greatest importance to the success of the Johannesburg Summit on Sustainable Development, the strengthening of global environmental governance, the entry into force of the Kyoto protocol and the actions of the United Nations Forum on Forests.

The Johannesburg Summit in particular should make concrete commitments. It could reaffirm international development goals and the goals set in the Millennium Declaration, and adopt measures to ensure their consistent and integrated implementation. It is important that the Summit should address the economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainable development in a balanced and mutually beneficial manner. As its principal goals, the Summit could set the eradication of poverty and the promotion of sustainable methods of production and consumption. The concern for equality between the sexes should be taken into account in all the preparations. Specific initiatives could also be taken in areas such as fresh water, energy, soil degradation and biodiversity.

As regards possible main themes for the Summit, the Union has identified the following, which might serve as a preliminary basis for discussion with our partners:

(1) the protection of the natural resources which are at the basis of economic and social development
(2) the integration of the environment and poverty eradication
(3) making globalization serve sustainable development
(4) improving governance and participation.

Regarding the environment, the General Assembly has a role to play in encouraging and promoting coordination and consistency, but should not prejudge the various processes under way. However, it is essential that the General Assembly should be kept constantly informed about the regional preparatory processes for the Johannesburg Summit, and about the process launched by the Global Ministerial Environment Forum.

(partnerships with civil society §30)

Mr. Chairman,

15. For several years, the Secretary General of the United Nations has presented himself as an advocate of partnership with civil society, and in particular the private sector. The European Union also believes that the support of the world of business may usefully serve development and the values defended by the UN. It can also be a source of efficiency and progress on the road to a more equitable sharing of the fruits of globalization. The resolution on global partnerships to be discussed in plenary will have a direct impact on our work.

16. Before concluding, I would just like to repeat our desire that work should be organized in a transparent and efficient manner in keeping with the rules of procedure. We are aware of the very special nature of our proceedings this year. We will have to show some flexibility, but the EU will press for procedures for the submission of draft resolutions to be respected, particularly as regards timing.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

| Top |